“The positive change, as compared to last year at this time, is palpable. The mood is as optimistic as I’ve seen in some time,” admits Nicole Blake, fresh from her promotion to EVP at Classic Media.

Blake, having been based at the firm’s US offices for three years, witnessed the arrival of the then Entertainment Rights portfolio and staff last year. And following the announcement of Andrew Kerr’s departure last week, she is set to bring the UK and rest of the world into her remit from the end of June.

In the first of a series of special interviews with big name US licensing companies exhibiting at Licensing International, Samantha Loveday finds out what we can expect from Sesame Workshop this year and beyond?